Jimmy Stewart Dog Poem About Beau: Watch the Clip

Jimmy Stewart read a poem about his dog Beau on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. The YouTube page for the clip gives the original airdate as 07/28/1981. Below the clip you will find who Jimmy Stewart was, the American Kennel Club’s profile of the Golden Retriever, and what the American Veterinary Medical Association says about grieving a pet.

Watch the Jimmy Stewart Poem About Beau

The clip is posted on Johnny Carson’s YouTube channel under the title “Jimmy Stewart Reads a Touching Poem About His Dog Beau | Carson Tonight Show.” Stewart reads the poem aloud on the show, so the video is the place to hear the words as he spoke them.

A book of his poems is titled Jimmy Stewart and His Poems.

Who Jimmy Stewart Was

Britannica describes James Stewart (1908-1997) as “a major American motion-picture star known for portraying morally resolute characters.” It says “His slow, halting line delivery became his trademark.”

Stewart’s role in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) earned him his first Academy Award nomination, and Britannica says he “won an Oscar the following year for The Philadelphia Story (1940).” He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and, in Britannica’s words, “had risen to the rank of colonel” by 1945. Britannica lists Gloria Stewart as his wife from 1949 until her death in 1994.

What the AKC Says About Golden Retrievers

The American Kennel Club ranks the Golden Retriever 3 of 210 breeds in popularity. Its breed page opens: “The Golden Retriever, an exuberant Scottish gundog of great beauty, stands among America’s most popular dog breeds.”

The AKC lists male Golden Retrievers at 23 to 24 inches and 65 to 75 pounds, and females at 21.5 to 22.5 inches and 55 to 65 pounds. It says they are “serious workers at hunting and field work, as guides for the blind, and in search-and-rescue.”

On training, the AKC says “As with all breeds, early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended.” It adds that “Gently exposing the puppy to a wide variety of people, places, and situations between the ages of seven weeks and four months will help the Golden develop into a well-adjusted, well-mannered adult.” For dogs of any age, social enrichment means contact with other dogs and people.

Golden Retriever Health

The AKC says “Goldens are generally healthy dogs, and responsible breeders will screen their breeding stock for health conditions including elbow and hip dysplasia; eye conditions such as juvenile cataracts, pigmentary uveitis, and progressive retinal atrophy; and certain heart diseases, including subvalvular aortic stenosis.” It also says “The Golden’s ears should be checked weekly for signs of infection, and the teeth should be brushed often.”

On weight, the AKC says “Some Goldens can become overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.”

Cancer has its own research. A paper in PLOS ONE from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine looked at necropsy records from the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between 1989 and 2016. Of 9,677 canine necropsy examinations, 655 were golden retrievers, and 424 of the 652 with a known age (65.0%) “were determined to have died because of cancer.” The authors open with this line: “Golden retriever dogs have been reported to have an increased prevalence of cancer compared to other breeds.”

The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study is a canine lifetime health study that follows dogs over time. Its cohort profile in PLOS ONE calls it “a prospective cohort study investigating nutritional, environmental, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors for cancer and other common diseases in dogs.” A total of 3,044 United States Golden Retrievers aged 6 months to 2 years completed baseline enrollment from June 2012 to April 2015.

Grieving the Loss of a Dog

The AVMA says “When a beloved pet dies, the loss can bring grief and intense sorrow.” It says “Your journey of grief will not take on a prescribed pattern or series of stages” and that “Acknowledging the full reality of your loss may take weeks or months, and will happen in a time that’s right for you.”

The AVMA also says “Your grief is normal, and the relationship you shared with your special friend needs to be mourned.” Its suggestions for keeping memories close include “look at past photos, write a tribute to your pet, or write your pet a letter recalling your time together.”

For more stories about dog loss, try these sad dog books.

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FAQ

Do Golden Retrievers make good pets?

The AKC says “Goldens are outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs, and relatively easy to train. They take a joyous and playful approach to life and maintain this puppyish behavior into adulthood.” It lists the temperament as “intelligent / friendly / devoted.” On the AKC trait chart the breed gets its top score, 5, for Affectionate With Family, Good With Young Children, Good With Other Dogs, and Openness To Strangers.

On exercise, the AKC says “Like most Sporting breeds, Goldens need plenty of daily exercise. A Golden who doesn’t get enough exercise is likely to engage in undesirable behavior.” It also says “Goldens make great companions on long runs and bike rides, although consultation with a vet is recommended before starting strenuous or high-impact activities that might cause stress to the dog’s bones and joints.” The Golden Retriever is number 12 in our list of the best dog breeds for running and hiking.

On grooming, the AKC says “Goldens heavily shed their thick, water-repellant double coat once or twice a year, and they also shed more moderately on a continuous basis. Most of the time, a good brushing-out with a slicker brush once or twice a week will remove much of the dead hair before it has a chance to fall onto the furniture.”

How long do Golden Retrievers live?

The AKC gives a life expectancy of 10-12 years for the breed.

Where can I get a dog like Beau?

The AKC’s guide to choosing a rescue group says “Many AKC breed clubs devote time and resources to rescuing dogs of the breed. The AKC Rescue Network is a good resource when you’re looking for a dog of a specific breed.” It adds that “other clubs like the Golden Retriever Club of America provide resources such as coordination, online listings, fundraising, and grants to dozens of local breed rescue organizations.” The same guide cites a study by the National Animal Interest Alliance, the NAIA animal shelter survey, and says “the number of purebred dogs in shelters dropped to about 5 percent.”

For breeders, the AKC says “Find a responsible breeder who is knowledgeable and make sure you’re comfortable with them.” It advises “Visit the breeder’s home or kennel and ask to see at least one of the puppy’s parents” and says “Breeders should be willing to share proof of health screenings such as OFA and CERF certificates with potential buyers.”

You can adopt a dog from a shelter. Alternatively, you can buy from a respected breeder, such as those listed by the American Kennel Club.

Sources

• YouTube, “Jimmy Stewart Reads a Touching Poem About His Dog Beau | Carson Tonight Show”: youtube.com.
• Britannica, “James Stewart”: britannica.com.
• American Kennel Club, “Golden Retriever”: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, “How to Choose the Right Dog Rescue Group”: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, “Responsible Breeders”: akc.org.
• American Veterinary Medical Association, “Coping with the loss of a pet”: avma.org.
• Kent MS, Burton JH, Dank G, Bannasch DL, “Association of cancer-related mortality, age and gonadectomy in golden retriever dogs at a veterinary academic center (1989-2016),” PLOS ONE, 2018: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
• “Cohort profile: The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study (GRLS),” PLOS ONE, 2022: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.